Drink Driving Statistics

You can view statistics on drink driving offences, deaths & injuries involving illegal alcohol levels and breath test statistics in the UK below.

DONT BECOME ANOTHER STATISTIC!!

Drink driving casualty & death statistics (1979 - 2023)

The following statistics show the estimated number of casualties and deaths from reported road traffic collisions in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) where at least one driver (or rider) had alcohol in their system that exceeded the legal alcohol limit for driving between the years of 1979 and 2023.

The data produced by The Department of Transport is acquired from forms filled out by the police and toxicology data for road fatalities collected from coroners and procurators fiscal.

The chart below shows a graphical representation of the figures in the above table, representing the total number of people killed and injured in road traffic accidents where at least one motorist had alcohol in their system that exceeded the legal alcohol limit for driving.

Figures published by the Department of Transport in July 2025 show deaths & injuries resulting from road trafffic accidents involving at least one motorist that was over the legal limit have declined significantly since 1979 as outlined in the chart below and table above.

It is important to look at recent statistics for all road traffic accidents compared to only those that involve illegal alcohol levels.

The chart below shows the total number of reported deaths resulting from all road traffic accidents compared to the total number of reported deaths resulting from road traffic accidents involving illegal alcohol levels over a 20 year period from 2004 to 2023.

Road traffic statistics show that in 2004 there were 3,221 total road traffic fatalities, 580 (approximately 18%) of those fatalities were reported as involving drivers over the legal limit.

In 2023 the total number of all road traffic fatalities had fell by 49.6% to 1,624 and the total number of fatalities reported as involving illegal levels had declined by approximately 55% to 260, compared to 2004.

Despite a 55% drop in alcohol related road fatailites in 2023 compared to 2004, fatalties involving illegal alcohol levels still represented approximately 16% of all road fatalities in 2023.

All road fatalities including those reported as involving illegal alcohol levels show a clear downwards trend over time, yet road deaths involving motorsits over the legal limit continue to contribute to roughly 12 - 18% of all road traffic fatalities in recent years.

The number of deaths from all road traffic accidents has declined, yet the proportion of those deaths as a result of accidents where illegal alcohol levels are involved still contribute to roughly 12 - 18% of all road traffic fatalities in recent years.

The largest reduction in road traffic fatalities involving drivers over the limit occured in 2010 and shows an enormous 36.8% reduction from the year before.

The huge reduction of drink driving fatalties in 2010 coincided with increased enforcement efforts by police officers who conducted the highest amount of road side breath tests in over 20 years in 2009 across England and Wales and the second highest number in 2010.

This shows that increased enforcement of drink driving laws had a significant impact resulting in less fatal accidents involving alcohol.

Since 2009 breath test numbers followed a steady downwards trend before reaching an all time low in 2021 where numbers fell by 68% compared to the peak in 2009.

Despite breath test numbers dwindling, drink drive fatalities continued to decline with small variations over the years.

Non alcohol road fatalities follow a similar pattern showing a signigificant reduction in number of fatalities between 2007 and 2010 reflecting long-term improvements in both road & vehicle safety despite some year-to-year fluctuations.

Modern vehicles include more safety features than ever before including airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and lane assist to name a few.

Vehicle safety features continue to see signifcant advancements. As the years go by existing safety features are improved and new safety features are developed.

These safety features are not only designed to help prevent injuries and fatalities in accidents they are designed to help prevent accidents from happening at all.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) is one such feature designed to help prevent accidents from happening. This system monitors the vehicles surroundings and automatically applies the brakes in the event an imminent collision is detected and the driver doesent react.

Vehicle safety features are perhaps the most significant factor in reducing all road traffic deaths including those involving illegal alcohol levels.

Preliminary Breath Test Statistics England and Wales - (2005 to 2023)

Preliminary breath tests are carried out by police officers usually at the roadside in order to determine if a driver has alcohol in their system that exceeds the legal limit.

If a person tests positive or fails to provide a specimen they are then typically arrested before being required to provide an evidential specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis.

It is a criminal offence to refuse to comply with a preliminary breath test and a seperate criminal offence to refuse to provide an evidential speciment of breath, blood or urine for analysis.

Year on year the total number of breath tests being carried out by police officers across England & Wales shows a clear and consistent downwards trend with the exception of a few years where numbers slightly increased.

While there were some inconsistencies outlined in the reporting of breath tests from several police forces in various years, statistics show a consistent downwards trend in the amount of breath tests being administered by police forces in England and Wales over the years.

The latest available statistics show an enormous difference is the amount of breath tests carried out by police officers in 2005 compared to the number of breath tests carried out in 2023.

Police officers in England & Wales carried out 478,303 breath tests in 2005 and only 240,322 in 2023, a reduction of 237,981 breath tests representing a 49.76% reduction.

The fact that police officers carried out approximately half the amount of breath tests in 2023 as they did in 2005 will no doubt be a significant contributing factor in the decrease of the number of drivers being prosecuted and convicted of drink driving offences in recent years compared to earlier years.

Despite this downwards trend, the percentage of drivers that are tested and either test positive for illegal alcohol levels or refuse to provide a breath test has remained relatively stable.

More likely to be breath tested over the christmas period

National christmas drink driving campaigns led by THINK! Road Safety, see police forces across the UK carrying out more breath tests over christmas.

The latest breath test figures reveal that in 2023 the month that the most breath tests were carried out was over the festive period in December.

Police officers carried out a total of 49,243 breath tests in December 2023 which is 138% higher than the average amount of breath tests carried out across previous months in the same year.

Drink Driving Offences Conviction Statistics (2005 - 2024)

The following convictions statistics show convictions for drink driving related offences committed in England & Wales in the UK between the years of 2005 and 2024.

In 2023, police officers breathalysed nearly 50% fewer motorists than they did in 2005, this closely correlated to a 53% drop in the number drink driving convictions.

Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above legal limit statistics (2005 - 2024)

The table below shows the total number of people convicted of driving or attempting to drive with alcohol above the legal prescribed limit in England & Wales between the years 2005 to 2024.

Between the years 2005 and 2024:

An average of 43,997 people were convicted of driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place while over the legal limit each year.

Out of the total number of drivers convicted of driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place while over the legal limit between the years 2005 and 2024:

• The majority of those convicted were male 82.41% compared to female 17.05%
• 76.63% of drivers received a fine
• 16.51% of drivers received a community sentence
• 1.82% of drivers received an immediate prison sentence
• 3.5% of drivers received a suspended prison sentence
• 0.41% of drivers received a conditional discharge
• 0.15% of drivers convicted received an absolute discharge

Driving or attempting to drive then failing to provide an evidentital specimen for analysis (2005 - 2024)

The table below shows the total number of people convicted of driving or attempting to drive then failing to provide an evidential specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis in England & Wales between the years 2005 to 2024.

Between the years 2005 and 2024:

An average of 5,433 people were convicted of driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place then failed to supply a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis each year.

Out of the total number of people convicted of driving or attempting to drive then failing to provide a specimen for analysis between the years 2005 and 2024:

• The majority convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis while driving or attempting to drive were male 83% compared to female 16%
• 55.01% of drivers convicted of this offence received a fine
• 29.79% of drivers convicted of this offence received a community sentence
• 4.77% of drivers convicted of this offence were sentenced to immediate custody
• 8.02% of drivers convicted of this offence received a suspended prison sentence
• 0.93% of drivers convicted of this offence received a conditional discharge
• 0.1% of drivers convicted of this offence received an absolute discharge

In charge of a motor vehicle while over the legal limit statistics (2005 - 2024)

The table below shows the total number of people convicted of being in charge of a motor vehicle while exceeding the legal limit in England & Wales between the years 2005 to 2024.

Between the years 2005 and 2024:

An average of 1,495 people were convicted of being in charge of a motor vehicle while exceeding the legal alcohol limit each year.

• The majority convicted of being in charge of a motor vehicle while exceeding the legal limit were male 85% compared to female 14%
• 83.9% of drivers convicted of this offence received a fine
• 11.42% of drivers convicted of this offence received a community sentence
• 1.03% of drivers convicted of this offence received an immediate custodial sentence
• 1.58% of drivers convicted of this offence received a suspended prison sentence
• 0.78% of drivers convicted of this offence received a conditional discharge
• 0.08% of drivers convicted of this offence received an absolute discharge

In charge of a motor vehicle then failing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine statistics (2005 - 2024)

The table below shows the total number of people convicted of being in charge of a vehicle then failing to provide an evidential specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis in England & Wales between the years 2005 to 2024.

Between the years 2005 and 2024:

An average of 634 people were convicted of being in charge of a motor vehicle then failing to provide a specimen for analysis each year.

• The majority of drivers convicted of being in charge of a motor vehicle then failing to provide a specimen for analysis were male 84% compared to female 16%
• 73.01% of drivers convicted of this offence received a fine
• 18.91% of drivers convicted of this offence received a community sentence
• 2.38% of drivers convicted of this offence were sentenced to immediate custody
• 2.56% of drivers convicted of this offence received a suspended prison sentence
• 1.21% of drivers convicted of this offence received a conditional discharge
• 0.21% of drivers convicted of this offence received an absolute discharge

Total breath tests and total convictions comparison - (2005 to 2023)

The charts below give a clear visual representation of how the number of breath tests carried out over the years has steadily declined and how the total number of convictions for drink driving related offences have followed a very similar pattern.

All statistical data including official accredited Government statistical data provide reliable estimates only and are often adjusted to account for a certain level of error in the data reported.

This means that the numbers reported may not be exact. The numbers provided are however very reliable estimates and are extremely useful in detecting trends in the data provided so that it can easily be determined if numbers are decreasing or increasing over time.

Updated: Nov 2025

Sources

Ministry of Justice Statistics

Department of Transport Statistics

Reference

[1] The Road Traffic Act 1988